Author Interview: Nell Dixon

Nell is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Her books include Christmas Ever After, The New Bay Series and Radio Gaga. We chat to Nell about her books, fictional characters and theme songs.

Can you tell us a little about the books you write and about your latest book, Sophie’s Choice?

I write contemporary women’s fiction with a dash of humour and a pinch of suspense. Sophie’s Choice is the first in the Ever After series. Christmas Ever After – the second book, was written as a stand alone but readers begged for Sophie’s love story so I gave in. Book 3 in the series will be out before Christmas and is called It Happened at Midnight and is the final one in the trilogy.

How much planning do you do before starting a book? Do you edit as you go?

I do very little planning. I have the characters in my head and I know what their problems are but the rest just writes itself. I don’t edit as I go. I wait till the story is completely done before I start to tinker with it.

What’s different with writing a book for a series and writing a ‘stand alone’ novel?

It’s hard writing series or linked books. You have to remember every detail from what’s gone before and ensure characters that have continuing storylines are still developing and keeping to their original concepts. Plus, you need to keep your timelines straight. Sophie’s Choice happens five years before Christmas Ever After. What advice would you give to someone thinking of writing a series of books? Keep a series’bible’ so you don’t have to keep looking back through your storylines to check your facts.

Which fictional character would you like to meet and why?

Oh, this is so difficult! I think it would be Kathy from Wuthering Heights – so many questions I’d love to ask.

Who is your ideal romantic hero?

I do like Mr Darcy, but I’ve always had a bit of a thing for Ross Poldark, can’t wait to see the new series.

How important has joining the Romantic Novelists’ Association been to you?

It was incredibly important. It was so amazing to meet like minded people who understood writing and books. Winning the Rona Rose twice was incredible and opened doors for me that I never even knew existed and I’ve made some fabulous friends too.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I like to have my Agatha Christie mug filled with coffee on my desk and I usually play a couple of games of Mahjong or Candy Crush before I start to write just to clear my head of shopping lists, and household jobs.

What’s your favourite word?

My most overused word in my writing is so and I edit it out like a crazy woman. When not writing I think Kumquat is a wonderful word, so satisfying to say lol.

Which song would best describe you?

Another tricky one! This varies as to how my life is going at the time but probably Don’t Worry Be Happy would be my theme song.

Out of all the books you’ve read, which three have changed your life?

This one is easier. Pride and Prejudice for the beautiful wittiness and character observations. Joyce Grenfell’s In Pleasant Places because many of her thoughts resonated with me and the Bible for personal reasons.

Five pieces of advice for new writers…

Read lots,

Keep writing,

Write what you love.

Don’t be scared to reach out to other writers.

Never be scared to edit.

For more information about Nell and her books, visit her website: www.nelldixon.com

Follow Nell on Twitter.

For more information on the Romantic Novelists’ Association, visit their website: www.rna-uk.org

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Novel Kicks

About Novel Kicks/Laura...
Novel Kicks was founded in 2009 and is run by Laura who is currently living in Hampshire, and lives with husband, Chris and her cat, Buddy. She would love to be a writer. She’s trying to write the novel she thinks so much about. She’s loved reading and writing since ‘Creative Writing’ classes in primary school. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything she can get her hands on, she loves reading, dancing like a loon, and watching Project Runway and Ugly Betty (her two TV guilty pleasures.) She also has an obsession with chocolate and Jammie Dodgers.